Sports science
Does running interfere with strength gains? Read the claim carefully
An evidence-aware explanation of the often repeated claim that running interferes with strength gains, based on a widely cited concurrent-training meta-analysis.
An influential 2012 meta-analysis found that concurrent running, unlike cycling in its moderator analysis, was associated with significant reductions in some strength and hypertrophy outcomes compared with resistance training alone. That does not mean running automatically prevents strength development: the review also found that interference varied with endurance frequency and duration, and newer research adds further nuance.
What to know
- The 2012 meta-analysis included 21 studies.
- Running showed more interference than cycling for some resistance-training outcomes in that analysis.
- Higher endurance frequency and duration were associated with larger interference effects.
- The paper is useful context but is older evidence and should be read alongside newer concurrent-training research.
Why the headline is often oversimplified
The paper is frequently reduced to 'running kills gains'. That is not a useful summary for a hybrid athlete. The authors examined modality, frequency and duration, and the outcomes differed across hypertrophy, strength and power.
A HYROX athlete must run, so the practical problem is not whether to remove running. It is how to manage the total concurrent-training dose while still developing race-specific running and station performance.
Use older evidence as context, not a universal rule
Training methods, study quality and the available literature have continued to develop since 2012. A newer 2024 meta-analysis shows that sex and training status can also influence observed interference patterns.
Athvaro therefore surfaces both pieces of evidence and keeps the uncertainty visible rather than using one study to generate a rigid training rule.
Sources
Athvaro source review: 2026-09-13. If a source or rule can change over time, verify the original source before acting on it.